| Stran v tématu: [1 2] > | Poll: The real challenge isn't AI itself; it's the clients' attitude toward AI. Autor vlákna: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "The real challenge isn't AI itself; it's the clients' attitude toward AI.".
View the poll results »
| | | | Lieven Malaise 
Belgie
Local time: 11:26
Člen (2020)
francouzština -> nizozemština
+ ...
The client's attitude doesn't matter in the end. Either AI is good enough to exclude translators, copywriters etc. (it's not), or it's not and then those clients that would choose now to rely solely on AI will come back (they will). The ones that would keep on using AI are the ones that would never spend money on decent translations in the first place, imo.
It's not all doom and gloom by the way. This week one of my long-standing clients asked for my general availability in the futu... See more The client's attitude doesn't matter in the end. Either AI is good enough to exclude translators, copywriters etc. (it's not), or it's not and then those clients that would choose now to rely solely on AI will come back (they will). The ones that would keep on using AI are the ones that would never spend money on decent translations in the first place, imo.
It's not all doom and gloom by the way. This week one of my long-standing clients asked for my general availability in the future because one of their end customers is planning to order more translation work into Dutch. Besides that I was contacted by an agency that gave a very good first impression : they were very professional and they accepted all my rates. I'm not 'in' yet, because there is some paperwork and a translation test to do, but at least there is still more out there than the awful bottom-feeders that are all too present on this website. ▲ Collapse
| | | |
The real challenge both for us and for clients and the public in general lies in distinguishing between meaningful innovation and the background noise: just hype and mere buzzwords.
| | | | Alex Lichanow
Německo
Local time: 11:26
angličtina -> němčina
+ ...
In fact, both are a problem (and yes, I mean problem, not challenge).
While AI is merely a tool without its own will (no matter what tech bros would have you believe), clients' attitude of using it as a panacea without any regard to its qualitative, ethical and environmental downsides is more than worrying.
Meanwhile, AI itself, while still just a software tool without its own will (no, Sam, it cannot think or reason), h... See more In fact, both are a problem (and yes, I mean problem, not challenge).
While AI is merely a tool without its own will (no matter what tech bros would have you believe), clients' attitude of using it as a panacea without any regard to its qualitative, ethical and environmental downsides is more than worrying.
Meanwhile, AI itself, while still just a software tool without its own will (no, Sam, it cannot think or reason), has huge energy and cooling demands. If we take the average of 500 ml of water evaporated for cooling purposes only to generate a meager 100 words of copy, the implications are more than troubling if we just try to imagine how many words are being generated day by day - and that's not even taking into account image generators that use way more water. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Min Xuanping
Čína
Local time: 17:26
Člen
angličtina -> čínština
+ ...
| AI has been screwing up the industry. | Feb 4, 2025 |
I prefer to work with a tradditional translation company. I think the AI company I work with is going too far. I guesss it hates translators. It relies on AI too much and because of AI many clients are leaving.
| | | | | Prepared to be a proofreader, not prepared for unemployment | Feb 4, 2025 |
I get clients asking for proofreading of AI translations, more and more.
The savings are too attractive for them to pass up AI. I can understand that.
What I don't get are clients that just disappear, apparently relying 100% on AI. Really? That's just reckless.
| | | |
[Edited at 2025-02-04 12:24 GMT]
| | | | Chié_JP
Člen (2013)
angličtina -> japonština
+ ...
| Emotinoal labor and imbalance introduced | Feb 4, 2025 |
Translation used to be input and output, very well balanced for the worker,
now it is source input and AI target input again, I need twice the time for the input and NO output. Often the AI part is junky and non-serious, emotional labour additionally involved
| | |
|
|
|
Liena V.
Lotyšsko
Local time: 12:26
Člen (2014)
francouzština -> lotyština
+ ...
People in general, not just clients, currently tend to see it as something that will magically solve all problems, immediately and at no or very minimal cost, which is extremely optimistic, to put it mildly. It is not even quite there yet and would require tremendous gains for any reasonable return from the investments already made so far, but everybody is frantically "preparing" as if the Lord Almighty would be coming down to earth next month.
And every major new technology ... See more People in general, not just clients, currently tend to see it as something that will magically solve all problems, immediately and at no or very minimal cost, which is extremely optimistic, to put it mildly. It is not even quite there yet and would require tremendous gains for any reasonable return from the investments already made so far, but everybody is frantically "preparing" as if the Lord Almighty would be coming down to earth next month.
And every major new technology is also problem and a threat itself. Like Alex said, AI has a huge environmental cost, not to mention other issues, such as reliability, responsibility, intellectual property etc., as well as the potential of abuse and major disruptions in about every field and aspect of life. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosna a Hercegovina
Local time: 11:26
angličtina -> francouzština
+ ...
| What you are teaching | Feb 4, 2025 |
Justin Peterson wrote:
I get clients asking for proofreading of AI translations, more and more.
The savings are too attractive for them to pass up AI. I can understand that.
What I don't get are clients that just disappear, apparently relying 100% on AI. Really? That's just reckless.
I remember you as a big AI advocate saying how everyone else is out of touch with reality.
Through your work, you teach AI not only how to translate, but also how to proofread (statistics, key strokes, patterns, etc.), now they sent your analysis to their internal proofreader to rely on, or simply to project what % of the text is/will be usable and whether it'll suit their project. After they used you for this, they ditched you. As simple as that.
I am truly stunned that you had not managed to project all of this in advance. I, for instance, knew this would happen and that this kind of work will dry up this way (and through some other ways and business laws that are too lengthy to describe here). That's why I never bothered and never engaged.
| | | | | So, are you trying to stop the spread of AI by refusing to use it?? | Feb 4, 2025 |
Is that working?
Lingua 5B wrote:
Justin Peterson wrote:
I get clients asking for proofreading of AI translations, more and more.
The savings are too attractive for them to pass up AI. I can understand that.
What I don't get are clients that just disappear, apparently relying 100% on AI. Really? That's just reckless.
I remember you as a big AI advocate saying how everyone else is out of touch with reality.
Through your work, you teach AI not only how to translate, but also how to proofread (statistics, key strokes, patterns, etc.), now they sent your analysis to their internal proofreader to rely on, or simply to project what % of the text is/will be usable and whether it'll suit their project. After they used you for this, they ditched you. As simple as that.
I am truly stunned that you had not managed to project all of this in advance. I, for instance, knew this would happen and that this kind of work will dry up this way (and through some other ways and business laws that are too lengthy to describe here). That's why I never bothered and never engaged.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosna a Hercegovina
Local time: 11:26
angličtina -> francouzština
+ ...
| It's not working | Feb 4, 2025 |
It's not working. But I used the time while not working on AI projects to explore some other paths and options for me. You didn't. You diligently worked on AI project and are now shocked the work has dried up. Lack of good projection and good preparation (I'm talking about long-term, not short-term projection). Not only are you now not prepared logistically, you are not prepared mentally either, as you had very passionate and intense AI advocacy moments.
| | |
|
|
|
Question is badly written, IMO.
To me, the real challenge is in the narrative imposed all over the media by the giants developing AI tools.
Multibillionaire tech companies promote/sell their own AI tools everywhere (TV, newspapers, the internet, social media) with a narrative that uses big words, like “groundbreaking” or “cutting-edge,” and speeches about how it will change life as we know it.
So, if clients/people are bombarded by this narrative 24/7, what attit... See more Question is badly written, IMO.
To me, the real challenge is in the narrative imposed all over the media by the giants developing AI tools.
Multibillionaire tech companies promote/sell their own AI tools everywhere (TV, newspapers, the internet, social media) with a narrative that uses big words, like “groundbreaking” or “cutting-edge,” and speeches about how it will change life as we know it.
So, if clients/people are bombarded by this narrative 24/7, what attitude are they going to have? How many people question what they see or hear on Google or television?
Even in this website originally intended for *human* translators & translation companies, AI narrative is growing as it's Pastey developing, could it be just a coincidence? ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Actually, I'm fine, but thanks for your kind concern | Feb 4, 2025 |
Actually, I'm fine, but thanks for your kind concern.
Teaching more.
What I was saying, and was totally right about, is that AI was already a force, and was destined to be bigger one. Would anything have been different had I whined about it, denied it, or refused to use it on some kind of Quixotic quest to avert the inevitable? Of course not.
My attitude towards AI is irrelevant. It's here. The question is how to deal with it now.
Lingua 5B wrote:
It's not working. But I used the time while not working on AI projects to explore some other paths and options for me. You didn't. You diligently worked on AI project and are now shocked the work has dried up. Lack of good projection and good preparation (I'm talking about long-term, not short-term projection). Not only are you now not prepared logistically, you are not prepared mentally either, as you had very passionate and intense AI advocacy moments.
| | | | Andrus Lauringson
Estonsko
Local time: 12:26
Člen (2022)
angličtina -> estonština
+ ...
And the real challenge to an AI is the next AI. It will be just AIs all the way down. Sorry, I meant "up".
| | | | | Stran v tématu: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: The real challenge isn't AI itself; it's the clients' attitude toward AI. | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
| | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
